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samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
Pole to Pole is the last of Michael Palin’s travel books that I have to read. (I still need to track down a copy of Hemingway Adventures in the future, but I may watch the series first as I’m not really into Hemingway). Set in the early 1990s (just before the fall of the USSR), Palin and the regular crew (including Basil and Clem) start at the North Pole with the aim of reaching the South Pole following the same longitude as closely as possible.
This takes them through Greenland, Finland, Estonia, the Ukraine (both part of the USSR at the time), Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa with an unexpected detour to Chile and finally, Antarctica. As always, the trip is not without its problems (digestive issues appear to occur quite often) and there are witch doctors, African animals and strange living quarters. I haven’t seen the series in its entirety but I think it would be interesting particularly from a retrospective point of view – there have been big changes in Europe (especially the Ukraine and Estonia) and Africa (eg. Zimbabwe) since this was made.
Once again, Palin can easily transport the reader to the time and place with interesting facts about the country as well as a great insight into the people.
This takes them through Greenland, Finland, Estonia, the Ukraine (both part of the USSR at the time), Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa with an unexpected detour to Chile and finally, Antarctica. As always, the trip is not without its problems (digestive issues appear to occur quite often) and there are witch doctors, African animals and strange living quarters. I haven’t seen the series in its entirety but I think it would be interesting particularly from a retrospective point of view – there have been big changes in Europe (especially the Ukraine and Estonia) and Africa (eg. Zimbabwe) since this was made.
Once again, Palin can easily transport the reader to the time and place with interesting facts about the country as well as a great insight into the people.
kingjason's review against another edition
3.0
My biggest issue with Palin's around the world in 80 days was how rushed it was, it didn't make for enjoyable reading. In Pole to Pole the journey is epic but due to a longer timeline you can tell Palin has enjoyed himself more...even though he cracks a rib, gets a fever, shoves crushed bark up his nose and suffers from the shits for the bulk of the journey. The book still feels more like a journal than a travel book which is a shame, as some things are only briefly mentioned and Palin's sense of humour only makes an appearance now and then.
I'd give this a higher rating if there was more detail about some of the places. I did find it interesting that this journey took place as USSR was falling apart, Palin was 10 days out of Ukraine when they got independence.
Interesting journey, worth reading just to see that Michael Palin does not shy away from any challenge.
Read as part of the armchair challenge.
I'd give this a higher rating if there was more detail about some of the places. I did find it interesting that this journey took place as USSR was falling apart, Palin was 10 days out of Ukraine when they got independence.
Interesting journey, worth reading just to see that Michael Palin does not shy away from any challenge.
Read as part of the armchair challenge.
wc4's review against another edition
4.0
I remember watching this series on TV. Always loved Monty Python and was delighted that Michael Palin has all these travel shows. Listening to it on audiobook now is a delight. Narrated by the author himself, it feels like an uncle telling you stories of his many exotic travels. Of course, at this point, it's also a historical track since I'm sure many things have changed from 1991. When he was travelling, the Soviet Union is still hanging on to its last breaths. It would be interesting for the youngsters of today to hear how things were in the "old days". One also wonders if traveling the same route nowadays would be easier than before.
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